Apparatus for separating liquids of different specific gravity



Feb. 15 1927.-

T. FISHER v APPARATUS FOR SEPAEQATING LIQUIDS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITY Filed Feb. 28, 1924 in a vertical section 4.

Patented Feb. 15, 1927.

THOMAS FISHER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING- LIQUIDS OF DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITY.

Application filed February 28, 1924. Serial No. 695,821.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for separating liquids of different specific gravity. The apparatus is particularly adapted for separating water from oil or other liquids lighter than water.

The invention is particularly designed to separate water from oil either in the ballast tanks or bilges on oil burning ships from the fuel oil that remains after the oil compartments have been emptied. In vessels of this type, after the compartments are emptied of oil, they must be filled with water as ballast. Usually, these compartments are located in the hull of the vessel between the outer and inner plates.

Government, regulations are such that water containing even a small amount of oil cannot be pumped overboard, owing to the fire hazard. 7

By my invention, the oil is separated from the water so that the water discharged can be pumpedoverboard at a dock and the oil can be saved. While the-apparatus is particularly designed to separate -oil from water, it will be understood that it can be used for separating other liquids of different specific gravity, wlthout departing from the the essential features of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved apparatus Fig. 2 is a view showing the outer casing in section and the spiral deflector and the inner casing in elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 33, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is an outer casing of any height and diameter desired. The casing is made, preferably about fifteen feet high and three feet in diameter. The size of the apparatus, however, depends largely upon circumstances. An inner cas ing 2 is spaced from the outer casing to form a channel 3, in which is a continuous helical deflector 4 that terminates, at its upper end,

This section extends past the inlet opening 5 for the water and oil. An air vent 16 leads from this pipe, as shown in Fig.1, to carry ofi any entrapped air, preventing ebullitions in the separator. In the lower end of the inner casing 2 are passages 6 to allow the water to pass from the outer channel 3 to the inner compartment 7. An outlet pipe 8 for water extends through the bottom 1 of the outer casing and into the inner compartment 7 to the distance shown in Fig. 1. At the upper end of the outlet pipe 8 is a sleeve 9, which can be raised, or lowered, by any suitable means to vary the height of water in the inner compartment 7. In the present instance, a screw 10 is mounted in a spider 11 at the top of the apparatus and is con nected to the sleeve, as shown.

An outlet pipe 12 for oil communicates with the upper end of the channel 3. Located in the channel below the oil outlet pipe and in the oilzone of the apparatus is a steam coil 13, having an inlet pipe 14 and an outlet'pipe 15. The tube, forming the coil, is preferably of large diameter and displaces the oil and raises its level. The steam heats the oil so that it will fiow freely from the apparatus." The coil is made preferably as shown in Fig. 2. The Vertical inlet and outlet pipes are spaced apart, as shown, and the two loops are spaced apart, forming free channels for the oil.

In order to keep the water level in the tank at all times, a small water pipe 17 is provided, which communicates with the bottom of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1. This pipe is connected to any suitable water supply under pressure, so that a continuous flow. of water is maintained at all times to insure a full water level in the apparatus. The water passing through the pipe 17 does not affect the free flow of water and oil into the apparatus, but prevents oil escaping from the apparatus through the water discharge, should oil alone be admitted through the inlet port.

In operating the apparatus, water carrying a certain amount of oil passes into the channel 3. through the inlet pipe 5, the water circulating downwards in a spiral path.

Any oil freed from the water escapes and rises and travels in contact with the under bottom of the apparatus into the inner compartment and flows out the outlet pipe 8.

The sleeve 9 acts as an adjustable weir. The oil, as it rises into the 011 zone, is

. heated and expanded, and its level is raised by the restricted portion of the channel. As the oil has become more fluid, it passes freely from the apparatus through the outlet pipe 12.

I claim: A

1. The combination in apparatus for separating liquids of different specific gravity, of an outer. vertical casing; an inner casing; acontinuous helical spiral deflector 1n the space between the two casings forming a closed helical channel, an inlet p1pe for liquids to be separated, said pipe communicating with the channel between the two casings; an outlet pipe for the lighter liquid communicating wlth the space between the two casings; and an outlet pipe for the heavier liquid at the bottom of the channel.

2. The combination in an apparatus for separating liquids of different specific gravity, of an outer vertical casing; an inner casing, forming, with the outer casing, an annular chamber; a continuous helical deflector fitting the chamber; a pipe for the liquids to be separated, said pipe communicating with the chamber on the upper side of the deflector, so that the lighter liquid, as it separates from the heavier liquids, travels on the underside of the deflectoreto the light liquid space in the chamber; an outlet for the heavier liquid at the bottom of the chamber; and an outlet for the lighter liquid at the top of the chamber.

3. The combination of an outer vertical casing; an inner casing spaced from the outer casing and extending substantially the full length of the outer casing, said inner casing having passages therein at its lower end; a continuous helical deflector in the channel between the two casings an inlet pipe for liquids to be separated communicating with the channel near the upper end thereof; an outlet for the lighter liquid communicating with the upper end of the channel; a vertical outlet pipe for the heavier liquids Within the inner casing, and an adjustable sleeve on the last-mentioned outlet plpe whereby the height of the heavier liquld in the apparatus is regulated.

4 The combination of an outer vertical casing; an inner casing spaced from the outer casing and having passages therein at its lower end; an inlet for water and oil, communicating with the channel; an outlet for water within the inner casing; an o utlet for oil communicating with the channel between the twocasings; and a steam pipe in the upper portion of the channel" at the oil zone only.

5'. The combination of an outer vertical casing; an inner vertical casing spaced from the outer casing to form a channel; a helical deflector in the channel having a vertical section at its upper end; a water and oil inlet pipe communicatlng with the channel at the base of the vertical section; a vertical water pipe extending through the inner casing; an oil outlet pipe communieating with the upper end of the channel; and a water pipe communicating with the apparatus below the top of the water outlet pipe, whereby the water level in the apparatus is maintained.

7. The combination in apparatus for separating water from oil, or other liquids lighter than water, of an outer casing; an innor casing spaced from the outer casing 'to form a channel; a water and oil inlet communicating with the channel; a water outlet communicating with the space within the inner casing; an oil outlet communi cating with the channel above the water inlet; a steam coil in the oil zone of the channel having vertical inlet and outlet pipes spaced apart; and two loops also' spaced apart.

8. The combination of an outer casing;

an inner casing spaced apart to form an annular chamber; a continuous helical deflec tor in the chamber forming a helical channel for the liquids to be separated, said deflector having a vertical section; an inlet pipe for the liquids communicating with the channel on one side of the vertical section of the deflector; an outlet pipe for the light liquid communicating with the chamber at a point above the inlet pipe. for the liquids to be separated; an inner casin having passages therein at its lower en and a vertical outlet for the heavier liquid within the inner casing extending to a point above the inlet opening.

9. The combination ofan outer vertical casing; an inner vertical casing spaced from" tinuous helical deflector in the channel having a vertical section at its upper end; an inlet pipe for the liquids communicating with the channel at the base of the vertical section; a vertical pipe for the heavier liqwithin the inner casing to a point near the upper end of the apparatus; and an outlet pipe for the li hter 1i(}uid'-opening in the channel above t e top 0 the outlet pipe 10 for the heavier liquid, said channel being restricted at its upper end. uid extending through the compartment THOMAS FISHER. 

